The first in a series of trainings on improving the work ability assessment system, based on the social model of disability, was held in Vrnjačka Banja on June 12 and 13, 2025.

Organized by the Youth with Disabilities Forum, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia, this training marked the beginning of a series of regional sessions dedicated to enhancing the work ability assessment system in line with the social model of disability.

The training brought together representatives of key institutions involved in the assessment process—occupational medicine, the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, the National Employment Service, as well as psychologists from primary healthcare centers. Over the course of two days, participants examined the current legal framework, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, differences between the social and medical models of disability, and the principles of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

The aim of the project is to support the reform of the disability assessment system in Serbia through an analysis of existing practices, the collection of input from relevant stakeholders, and the capacity building of professionals involved in the assessment process.

Upcoming trainings are scheduled for September 23–24 in Vojvodina and October 2–3 for the central and western regions of Serbia.

These trainings are part of the project “Towards a Reformed Work Ability Assessment System,” implemented by the Youth with Disabilities Forum with the support of UNDP, as part of the broader initiative “Promoting Equality, Rights and Inclusive Action,” jointly implemented by UNDP, UN Women, and UNFPA, with financial support from the Global Disability Fund.